Method of purifying and mixing fats and waxes



Se t. 19,1933. R. BENDLIN ET AL METHOD OF PURIFYING AND MIXING EATS AND WAXES Filed Jan. '7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 19, 1933. R; BENDLIN' ET AL METHOD OF PURIFYING AND MIXING FATS AND WAXES Filed Jan. 7', 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mam B QTTokqr Urbasc. h

Sum/"ken Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES METHOD OF PURIFYING AND MIXING, FATS AND WAXES Richard Bendlin and Ottokar Urbasch, Vienna, Austria Application January 7, 1930, Serial No. 419,145, and in Austria January 9, 1929 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for enabling fatty substances of the consistency of butter, such as in particular butter, lard,'waxes, and the like, to be purified, mixed, and, if desired, refined, without the employment of a melting process. It has already been proposed to treat fats, and in particular butter, by pressing the same througha perforated plate, whereby an, albeit inadequate, mixing is achieved. A purification or refining cannot be effected in this manner. The purifying and mixing of fats has been carried out hitherto by first liquefying these substances, and then submitting the same in this state and finely subdivided to the action of washing and cooling liquids, as is known in particular in connection with the manufacture of margarine. This methodis, however, not applicable to butter, since melting substantially alters the properties of butter.

The process provided by the present invention consists essentially in that the substances (fats) to be treated are first reduced to fine threads, e. g. by means of a press of a known ,type of construction, that these threads are at the moment of their formation torn into minute particles, in the unmelted state, by jets of a washing liquid, and that thereafter a separation of the liquid from the treated materials is effected in any known manner, e. g. by pressing or by the action of centrifugal force. If the treated substances contained impurities which are insoluble in the washing liquid, these impurities are first removed from the liquid, e. g. by being allowed to settle, before the mixture is subjected to the action of centrifugal force. If, on the other hand, only soluble substances, such as salt, have been transferred to the washing liquid, the mixture can be conducted directly from the press to a centrifugal filter.

There is then effected in the centrifuge not only the separation of the fat from the washing liquid, but also a thorough mixing of the particles of fat, which mixing is absolutely neces-,

sary in the purification of mixtures of fats for the purpose of obtaining a uniform product. The fat can also be recleansed in the centrifuge with any desired washing liquid, by spraying the liquid into the machine and at the same time maintaining such a speed of rotation that the particles of fat do not unite to form a single piece. 1

It will be clear that by the described process, in consequence of the subdivision of the treated substances into minute particles by the washing liquid and of the subsequent action of the centrifuge, the intermixture of different substances introduced intothe press is carried out in a particularly effective manner. In particular it is to be noted that the present process,

flcation of the substances to be treated. Watery or other solutions with an alkaline or acid reaction can be employed as washing media, for the purpose, for instance, of removing from the fats soluble components which have become rancid. This treatment can be followed by a Washing with. pure, sterilized water.

A further feature of the present invention is the employment of special washing media for mixing the substances treated, in particular butter, with additional substances serving for the refinement of these substances. For this purpose washing liquids containing-cultures of bacteria, especially'cultures of lactic acid bacteria, 6. g.

sour milk, can be employed, whereby the substances treated are simultaneously purified and imparted with a pleasant aroma and good flavour, since the cultivated bacteria, provided the duration of contact is sufficiently long, multiply to such an extent that the growth of the harmful bacteria is thereby suppressed. As a washing liquid good, sterilized milk or cream can also be employed, whereby the fats are purified, and at the same time acquire the fine flavour of the milk or cream. Finally, before the separation of the washing liquid from the mixture, an inoculation with pure cultures of lactic acid bacteria can be carried out in the known manner, for the purpose of imparting to the purified product a desired colour or a desired'f-ragrance and flavour.

A further feature of the invention is the repeated application of the method provided, in

perience has shown that the subdivision of the substances to be treated in the manner described can be effected by means of a press of the type of the known ver'micelli presses, means for the admission of the washing liquid being so provided in conjunction with this press that the said liquid admitted under pressure tears the vermiform threads of fat into minute particles as they issue from the die of the press, and carries these particles away with it in suspension. The arrangement of the parts for the admission of the washing liquid can be varied, as will be shown in the course of the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

These examples of forms of construction for the device according to the invention are shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an example of a form of construction in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modified form of construction taken on the line II-II of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section-on the line III--III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a third example of a form of construction for the plunger press, shown in vertical section taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a plan elevation to be read in conjunction with the section shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the complete lay-out of the press and the centrifugal machine in vertical section.

In the form of construction according to-Fig. 1, 1 is the cylinder of a vermicelli press under the piston 2 of which and within the space 3 is situated the raw butter, margarine, or the like intended for purification. Through the movement of the piston 2 towards the die 4 the fat is pressed through the channels 5 and thereby transformed into threads, which are instantaneously cut off by a jet of water as they issue from the die 4. It is obvious that in place of the plunger press a screw press or any other suitable form of pressing device can be used in connection with this method of purification. The water for producing the cutting and washing jet fiows through. the pipe 6 and the jet 7 against the projection 8 on the die 4, being continuously and evenly divertedby the projection 8 so as to traverse the surface of the die radially and to out off the threads of fat as they emerge from the perforations. At the edge 9 of the die 4 the mixture of fat particles and water is continuously and evenly diverted in the direction of the length of the tube 10, and flows on through the connecting pipe 11 into the container 12. Here it rises to the surface of the washing liquid, and assumes a sponge-like structure of appetizing appearance. If butter or margarine be purified or mixed, the deteriorated butter-milk, which renders these goods impure, is transferred to the washing water. It is obvious that the jets of water can equally well be directed in the opposite sense to that just described, that is to say from the circumference towards the centre of the die.

The cleansing of the fats can if necessary be repeated, by the withdrawal of the sponge-like coagulation of fat from the vat into which it has been run ofi, inserting it in the threading press, and washing it in the manner previously described.

In the example of a form of construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, 4 is the die, 2 the cylinder of the press, and 3 the pressing piston. 5 is the conduit through which the washing liquid is led in. The conduit 5 is broadened out within the range of the die 4 to such an extent, that the rate of flow of the washing liquid along the entire surface of the die is approximately uniform, it being advisable to arrange that the direction in which the washing liquid travels is at right angles to that in which the threads of fat enter the washing space.

In the example of a form of construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, 12 is the die, and 7 the pressing piston. The washing liquid flows through the pipe 11 and the jet 13, which latter is disposed in a plate 8 opposite the centre of the die 12, is deflected radially outwards, cuts off the threads of fat as they issue from the die, fiows along the inner surface of the casing 6, and leaves the press by the exit-pipe 10. With this type of construction it is particularly easy to alter the size of the particles of fat formed in the process, by altering the distance of the die 12 from the plate 8. This alteration is effected by the displacement of a tube 11, which carries the plate 8. The locking in position of the plate is effected by means of the nut 6.

The amount and rate of travel of the washing liquid must, in the case of all the types of construction described, be exactly adjusted to the amount of fat ejected into the washing space, so as to eliminate the possibility of this space becoming choked.

The last described form of construction coincides with the first described when the plate is gradually reduced in size.

The die and the plate disposed opposite to it can also be constructed conical in shape, whereby the jet for the washing liquid is so disposed at the point of the cone formed by the plate, that the washing liquid fiows over the die along the length of the cone at a uniform rate throughout the entire surface. In this case also the washing liquid is caused to move in a direction at right angles to that in which the threads of fat emerge from the die.

The operation of the device according to the invention, with reference to Fig. 6, is as follows:-

The butter (or fat) intended to be mixed or to be treated with cultures of bacteria is introduced into the cylinder, which is closed by the head-piece A, and at the lower end of which the piston '7 is situated. The head of the press is held down by means of screws or by any other suitable manner of closing. The washing liquid, e. g. water or milk acidified with pure cultures and so forth, is directed under pressure through the pipe 11 and the jet 13 on to the die 12, where it is radially deflected, and passes along the inner surface of the head 6 of the casing, through the outflow pipe 10, down the channel 20, through the opened lids 23 and 24, and into the centrifugal rotor 22. Here it trickles through the filters of the rotor, and runs off through the outflow pipe of the stator 26. When the washing liquid has been started flowing through the apparatus, the plunger is lifted by rotation of the hand crank 19 through the intermediary of the U- shaped piston-rod 16, the toothed rod 17 attached'to the latter, and the toothed wheel 18. The butter (or fat) is now reduced by the die to fine threads, which, as they emerge on the upper side of the die, are instantaneously cut off and swept away by the jet of the washing liquid. In this manner the finely subdivided butter (or fat). of sponge-like consistence is transferred into the slowly turning centrifugal rotor, in which it settles. The superfluous washing liquid trickles through the filters 25 and out by the collected in the rotor, the butter feed is inter-- rupted by bringing the plunger to a standstill, and-the supply of the washing liquid is cut off. The channel 20 connecting the press with the centrifugal machine can now be removed or swung aside, so that the centrifugal machine is isolated. The lids 23 and 24 are now closed down and the speed of the rotor increased to such an extent that, without causing the contents to be firmly compressed together, the washing liquid continues to act upon the contents of the rotor as long as it is desired that it should do so. At the close of the period of the action of the washing liquid the speed of the rotor is accelerated,

so that the adhering washing liquid is withdrawn from the butter (or fat) through the action of centrifugal force. When the required de-,

gree of dryness has been attained, the rotor is stopped, the butter can be removed, submitted once more if necessary to the entire processQand finally if desired pressed out.

We declare that what we claim is:-

1. A method of purifying and mixing fatty substances of the consistency of butter, such as butter, lard, waxes, and the like, which consists in dividing the said substances in the unmelted state into threads, and subdividing the said threads into minute particles by means of a stream of a washing liquid, and separating the said particles from the said washing liquid by any known method.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the said fatty substances are divided into fine threads by pressing the same through a threadforming press, and subdividing the said threads on leaving the press into minute particles by powerful jets of a washing liquid, and finally separating the said washing liquid from the said substances by any known method.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which solid insoluble impurities transferred to the said washing liquid are separated from the said washing liquid by settlement, before the separation of the said washing liquid from the substances treated.

4. .A method as claimed in claim 1- in which the said washing liquid contains cultures of bacteria.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the said washing liquid is good sterilized milk.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the said washing liquid is milk treated by acidification with pure cultures of lactic acid bacteria.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the'said washing liquid is a salt solution.

RICHARD BENDLIN. OTTOKAR URBASCH. 

